Ark Enterprises 2, Braggs Truck Repair, Green Tech Energy Solutions, Grimes Auto Service Inc., and NDMJ Transportation are joining Alliance to provide fleets with EPA-certified autogas vehicle conversions, as well as ongoing service and technical support.

“From Virginia to Texas, these new partners help strengthen Alliance AutoGas as we continue expanding nationwide, helping our nation’s fleets save money and drive clean,” says Stuart Weidie, president of Alliance Autogas and founder of Autogas for America.

Certified Alliance AutoGas conversion centers are equipped to implement both bi-fuel and dedicated propane vehicle conversions using Prins vapor and liquid injection technology. Alliance has the largest privately financed portfolio of autogas vehicle certifications in the U.S., with more than 200 vehicle types eligible for autogas conversions.

Fleets that convert to autogas will save on both fuel and maintenance costs. Because autogas is a cleaner-burning fuel than gasoline, many fleets report reduced maintenance needs for vehicles, like fewer oil changes and an extended engine life. Alliance AutoGas provides leasing and financing options that allow fleets to start saving immediately, with zero up-front cost—including for an on-site autogas station.The new Alliance conversion center partners include:

Ark Enterprises 2 in Churchville, VA; Braggs Truck Repair in Berryville, VA; NDMJ Ltd. Transportation of Tyler, Texas;
Green Tech Energy Solutions in Miami, FL; and Grimes Auto Service of Tifton, GA.

Stewart provided expert insights and three BlueStar autogas vehicles for test driving. The conference also included informational sessions on autogas and other alternative fuels, along with details on grants, tax credits and financing for shifting fleets to clean fuel.

Propane autogas is the third most widely used fuel in the world, powering more than 17 million vehicles globally. Ninety percent of the U.S. supply is made in America. Autogas costs about $1.25 less per gallon than gasoline, and because autogas is also a cleaner burning fuel, fleets often experience reduced maintenance costs.

As the flagship West Coast fuel provider for Alliance AutoGas, Blue Star Gas supplies fleets from California to Washington State with affordable, American-made autogas. A variety of experts, policy makers and manufacturers from organizations such as Eaton Corporation, Freightliner Trucks and Cascade Sierra Solutions were also on-hand at the event to offer valuable insight on current green options for the trucking industry.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to educate leaders in the Oregon transportation industry about autogas. It’s an ideal clean fuel for light-duty fleets that’s readily available today,” said Stewart, a past chairman of the National Propane Gas Association Benchmarking Council. “With so many green energy options on the market, it can be overwhelming to identify the best fuel to power your fleet. But, for those who want to save money and reduce harmful emissions without sacrificing performance, autogas is the ideal fuel.”

BlueStar Gas vehicles available for test drives during the event included an autogas-powered Ford Expedition, a Ford Crown Victoria and a Chevy 3500 utility truck.

“Events like the conference held by McCoy Freightliner help spread awareness about autogas one driver at a time, since they are able to discover first-hand the power of autogas vehicles,” said Stewart. “In fact, Blue Star provides test drives and demonstrations for West Coast fleet owners and managers on an ongoing basis. There’s no better way to experience the performance of an autogas vehicle than by getting behind the wheel of one.”

The 850-vehicle strong diesel fleet helps to maintain more than 29,000 acres in New York City. The fleet includes more than 40 different types of vehicles and equipment – handling everything from snow removal to landscape and parks maintenance to road construction and waste management.

The New York City Sanitation Department also uses biodiesel blends in vehicles used to fight winter weather, such as salt spreaders and plows.

“We can’t afford for our garbage trucks not to run,” said Supervisor of Mechanics Spiro Kattan. “Our trucks don’t only pick up garbage, they are also equipped with snowplow hitches. We’re a part of the city’s snow emergency plans and the residents of New York City would not be too happy if our vehicles went down during a snow storm.”

Further, JFK International Airport uses B20 to keep runways clear even in the worst of snowstorms.

In addition, New York City enacted a groundbreaking law requiring that all heating oil sold in the city contain at least two percent biodiesel beginning in October 2012. Bioheat® is already keeping many homes and offices warm this winter, including New York City Parks’ buildings.

“We are looking forward to having a ‘Man Caves’-size rolling tool box for the biggest season yet of ‘Man Caves.’ This thing is functional and just amazing,” said an enthusiastic Cameron, co-host of the show, upon seeing the new propane-powered van for the first time.

Thanks to Knapheide and Sortimo, there are a variety of organizational systems which allow the hosts, licensed contractor Jason Cameron and former NFL great Tony “The Goose” Siragusa, to quickly and efficiently complete any project at hand. The Knapheide Utility Vehicle will be mounted on the back of the ROUSH propane E-350 and will include a number of Sortimo S-, M-, and T-BOXXES to organize the tools and small parts it carries, many with adjustable shelves and dividers. The cargo area has retention poles to hold large parts and sheet material, as well as a bed slide to assist in loading heavy equipment or parts. This allows the “Man Caves” crew to be most efficient from the truck to the work site.

“Jack Roush has cars racing on TV nearly every weekend, but this will mark the first time that a ROUSH liquid propane-powered van will have a starring role on television,” said Joe Thompson, executive vice-president and general manager of ROUSH. “ ‘Man Caves’ is a program that has a very dedicated audience and it’s going to be exciting to have a ROUSH vehicle play a role in the space transformations they have planned for this season.”

Chris Weiss, Knapheide vice-president of engineering concluded, “Building the ‘Man Caves’ work van is a perfect opportunity to show off the organizational capabilities of the ROUSH/Knapheide Utility Vehicle. Our partnership with ROUSH helps us provide efficient work solutions for our contractor customers with the advantage of using green technology like liquid propane.”

Over 1,300 participants from all levels of fleet and aviation management within the Federal Government are in attendance. Workshop sessions began on Sunday with a Basic Fleet Class which educated new Federal Fleet management on how to function with the their agency, learn about fleet policies, procedures, mandates, new programs and more. Many workshops followed throughout the week.

The exhibit hall opened on Monday to over 180 companies who can network with other vendors, Federal, State, local government and private sector fleet menagers. Exhibitors included automobile manufacturers, alternative fuel and alternative fuel vehicle promoters and more.

The 2011 FedFleet conference will be held in Orlando, Florida from July 26-28.

Fleet vehicle owners are making their choices for alternatively powered vehicles. Sales for cars including plug-in hybrid electric, mild hybrid 1, natural gas and propane (also known as Autogas and liquefied petroleum gas/LPG), and fuel cell powered vehicles are expected to increase to 49 percent by 2035, up 36 percent from 2008 based on the Annual Energy Outlook 2010 report released by the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA). About 13 million cars and trucks worldwide are powered by propane today and they are running on fuel that averages 40-50 percent less than gasoline/diesel per gallon according the CleanFUEL.

CleanFUEL’s advanced propane engine utilizes the patented Icom JTG Technology and System manufactured by Icom North America and offers the same horsepower, torque and performance as gasoline-powered engines. Yet it produces 87 percent less hydrocarbons and 50 percent fewer toxins than gasoline. CleanFUEL’s system performed 25 percent better than comparable gasoline and diesel engines tested against current EPA standards, also reporting zero in particulate matter emissions rate. This makes propane fuel extremely attractive as the EPA and CARB continue to tighten the reign on vehicle emissions.

This decision is important because it now means that the trucks can be sold anywhere in the country with the exception of California and those states which have adopted the CARB certification standards. CARB certification is currently pending, as is EPA approval for other additional model year vans. Production and shipment of conversion systems and of ROUSH-built vehicles can begin immediately.

The EPA certification covers the 2010 model year Ford E-150, E-250, and E-350 cargo vans, wagons, and certain cutaway configurations with a GVWR of up to 10,000 pounds (the Heavy Duty Vehicle 1 classification), utilizing the Ford 5.4L, 2V V-8 engine. Vehicles can be ordered with the conversion performed at the ROUSH vehicle assembly facility in Livonia, Mich., or a conversion system can be ordered and installed by a qualified up fitter on an existing vehicle meeting the appropriate configuration standards.

The purchase of propane-powered vehicles is eligible for a variety of federal, state, and municipal tax credits or rebates. The Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle (QAFMV) federal tax credit is available to be applied toward the purchase of vehicles that have been repowered to operate on an alternative fuel. The ROUSH propane powered E-150, E-250, and E-350 is unique as it was calibrated and certified to stricter emissions standards than the EPA mandated for vehicles of its class. That means the QAFMV tax credit can cover 80 percent of the incremental cost to convert certain models, up to an $8,000 cap for qualified buyers.

Enterprise Holdings today announced plans for its entire fleet of more than 600 Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental airport shuttle buses across more than 50 North American markets to begin using at least 5 percent biodiesel (B5).

Pictured at the press conference are (l-r) Joe Jobe, CEO NBB, Dr. Richard Sayre, Director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, and Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings. Each of them spoke at a morning press conference.

Further, the company will immediately convert buses in nine markets to 20 percent biodiesel (B20) as a first step toward the company’s goal of converting its entire bus fleet to B20 over the next five years.

In addition to embracing biodiesel and other alternative fuels as they become commercially viable, Enterprise Holdings also provides strong support for renewable fuels research. In 2007, the company’s owners, the Taylor family, made a $25 million grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels. Led by renowned plant researcher Dr. Richard Sayre, top scientists work at the Institute to develop alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources.

National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album